The Magic prepare for a new season with a revamped coaching staff and a core looking to take the next step.
Offseason Recap
• Last Season: 45-37 (8th in East, lost in First Round)
• Key Additions: Izaiyah Nelson, Nikola Vučević
• Every Magic move this offseason
Season Outlook
The Magic have lost in the first round of the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, and an edict from management stresses better results. That’s why there was a coaching change, and Sean Sweeney, an associate head coach for the San Antonio Spurs last season, now holds the top job on Orlando’s bench. Let’s start with health, though. Franz Wagner played in just 34 games, and Jalen Suggs just 57 games. That’s step No. 1 in Orlando’s push for progress. Next is getting the most out of a roster that features Paolo Banchero (an All-Star in 2024), Wagner (on the verge of his first All-Star appearance) and Desmond Bane.
Banchero averaged 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists and shot 45.9% from the field and 30.5% on 3s. Better efficiency from Banchero will help, as will the production from Bane (20.2 points per game and 40.4% on 3s in the past five seasons) and Wagner is a potential 20-5-5 player.
The Magic went from second defensively in 2024-25 to 13th last season. However, they improved offensively in 2025-26 and now need to execute on both ends of the court. A healthy Suggs will assist in those departments.
The veteran Vučević returns to Orlando and provides frontcourt depth alongside Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., and Goga Bitadze.
Anthony Black will lead the bench unit, and the development of young players Jase Richardson, Tristan da Silva and Noah Penda are important to Orlando’s growth.
Breakout Candidate: Anthony Black
Black made a leap last season, posting career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals in his third season. A starter in 40 games and a reserve in 24 games, Black has room to elevate his game even more for the Magic, who will need his offense and defense whether he’s a starter or reserve. Black produced standout games last season: 38 points against the Denver Nuggets; 31 points against the Philadelphia 76ers; 27 points, 10 assists and four blocks against the Indiana Pacers; and 26 points, seven rebounds, five assists, four steals and two blocks against the Miami Heat.
He has size at 6-foot-7 and can play both guard positions and small forward in certain matchups. If he improves his shooting percentages (44.7% from the field and 33.3% on 3-pointers last season) and becomes a more efficient scorer, Black has the potential to deliver a 20-5-5 and boost the Magic offense.
1 Number To Know
14 — The Magic have had a worse-than-average offense in each of the last 14 seasons. That’s a pretty incredible streak. The Magic were the league’s third-most improved offensive team last season, climbing from 27th to 18th on that end of the floor. But shooting (the most important aspect of offense) remained a struggle. They ranked third in the percentage of their 3-point attempts (60%) that were wide open, but 28th in wide-open 3-point percentage (36.5%).
With minimal roster additions, improvement must come from within. Black (22 years old) shot just 73-for-224 (32.6%) on wide-open 3s last season and could certainly take a step forward.
— John Schuhmann
5 Must-See Matchups
• Oct. 21: Hawks vs. Magic — Another season opener here: the Hawks and Magic should compete for one of the top spots in Southeast, and this tips off the first of four matchups between the two teams.
• Dec. 14: 76ers vs. Magic — This is the second of consecutive games between the two teams – the first one is Dec. 12 in Philadelphia and two nights later, they play in Orlando.
• Feb. 13: Spurs vs. Magic — From Feb. 12-March 9, the Magic play 9-of-10 games at home, including this one against defending Western Conference champion San Antonio.
• March 15: Magic vs. Bulls — Vučević spent the first eight-plus seasons with Orlando early in his career, then played for Chicago from 2021-26 before rejoining the Magic in the offseason.
• April 11: Magic vs. Heat — The Magic and Heat play four times, including three times in the final month of the regular season, including this closeout contest – another game where playoff seeding could be at stake.
> Complete Regular Season Schedule
Preseason Storylines
The Magic have a new coach in Sean Sweeney, who is respected for his offensive and defensive acumen. He was an assistant for the Dallas Mavericks when they reached the 2024 NBA Finals and was an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs when they advanced to the 2026 Finals. This is his first NBA head coaching job, and the Magic need him to maximize Banchero and Wagner and improve the defense.
The Magic have won at least 41 games in three consecutive seasons, including 47 in 2023-24 and 45 last season, but they have not won a playoff series since 2010. With this roster, Sweeney’s job is to elevate the Magic and get them deeper in the playoffs. He brought in an experienced staff that includes Joe Prunty, Greg Buckner and Popeye Jones.
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Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at jzillgitt@nba.com, find his archive here and follow him on X.
